Hunting success up over last year

With two weeks left in Montana’s general hunting season, the percentage of hunters with harvested game is slightly ahead of last year in Northwest Montana, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Through four weekends of the season, FWP has tallied nearly 9,200 hunters at five big game check stations in Region 1. Among those hunters, FWP has recorded 620 white-tailed deer, including 479 bucks, as well as 81 mule deer and 46 elk. The overall percentage of hunters checked with harvested game is 8.1 percent, compared to 6 percent a year ago. The total number of white-tailed bucks reported at the check stations is 212 more than a year ago.

Check stations are open on weekends during hunting season. The counts at the stations represent a sampling of the harvest and do not represent the complete number of animals taken. Hunters must stop at all check stations that they pass, even if they have not harvested any animals.

Glacier National Park reminds hunters that hunting in the park is illegal. It is the responsibility of hunters to ensure that they are not hunting within park boundaries, even if the boundary is not clearly marked or indicated.

The general big game season runs through Sunday, Dec. 1.